Marker for measuring tape



Nov. 13, 1962 F. KEENE 3,063,157

- MARKER FOR MEASURING TAPE Filed Sept. 16, 1957 IN VENTOR [Ev/2% fieexze.

ATTORNEYS:

. 3,063,157 MARKER FDR MEASURING TAPE Frank Keene, 6611 Rulfner Ave., Van Nuys, Calif- Filed Sept. 16, 157, Ser. No. $54,291 Claims. (Cl. 33-4189) The invention pertains to a marking attachment adapted for releasable connection with a known form of reel measuring tape structure. Such a tape structure embodies a housing enclosing a tape supporting reel and which housing is defined by opposite side parallel walls, opposite end parallel walls at right angles to said side walls and a bottom supporting wall at right angles to the said side and end walls, and wherein one of said end walls is provided with a slot adjacent the bottom wall for passage of a steel measuring tape to and from the said reel within the housing. Tape measuring structures of the above described form are in extensive use, particularly by carpenters and builders and which have to a large extent replaced the more ancient measuring device known as the folding rule and which are generally known as steel pocket tapes.

Although the above described steel pocket tape possessed marked advantages over the more ancient folding wooden rule, such as compactness, adaptability for inside measurements, and greater linear capacity, same however was more difficult to handle when marking dimensions being measured thereby due to its high flexibility as compared to the relatively rigid wooden folding rule which can be held be one hand while the other hand is free to manipulate a marking pencil or crayon, whereas the use of the highly flexible reel tape when in use requires one hand to hold the housing and another hand to hold the drawn out end of the tape and thus no provision for marking any desired measurement.

The above noted disadvantage in the use of prior steel pocket tape structures has heretofore been recognized and attempts have been made to overcome same particularly in the provision of markers as a unitary part of the tape housing, and while such proposed prior structures may well have overcome said disadvantages in the use of present steel pocket tape structures, the markers were not adapted for ready use with existing steel tape structures and furthermore the markers which protrude from the tape housing were not removable andhad to be carried even though they may not be required for extensive intervals of time.

It is accordingly a primary feature of this invention to provide a marker structure which is adapted to be readily engaged with the housing of a flexible reeled tape and readily disengaged therefrom, and wherein the marker per se is capable of being disposed in operative or inoperative position, when engaged with the said housing.

A further and more specific feature of the invention is the provision of a marking structure which embodies an open-top generally rectangular casing whose opposite side and end walls are frictionally engageable with the corresponding walls of said housing and with the bottom wall of the housing resting on the bottom wall of the casing, and wherein the casing is provided in one end thereof with a tape guiding passage which is capable of finger pressure restriction for holding the tape against movement relative to the housing, and wherein the said casing is provided with a marker in vertical alinement with said guide passage, whereby a measurement may be marked by said marker through action of the same hand which supports the said housing.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a measurement marking structure of the character above referred to wherein the marker per se consists of a relatively small rectangular piece which is removably supported in one end of a plate normally engaged with Stirs g the bottom wall of said casing and wherein the opposite end of said plate is pivotally connected to said casing for swinging movement through an angular range of for disposing said marker in marking position or for concealing same within the general confines of said casing.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the housing of a known form of reel tape measurer with the tape broken and partially extended from the housing and wherein the housing is provided with the improved marking attachment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the detachable marking structure as observed in the plane of line 33 on FIG. 5, and wherein a portion of the tape housing is shown and with which the marking structure is frictionally engaged;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the marking structure.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the known form of steel pocket tape as is now extensively used comprises a housing H having parallel side walls S, parallel end walls E at right angles to the side walls and a bottom wall B at right angles to the side and end walls and one of the end walls E is provided with a tape slot s (FIG. 3) and the tape T is fed from a reel within the housing through said slot in well known manner.

The improved marking attachment 10 shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 is of generally rectangular open top casing formation and formed from relatively light gauge sheet metal and same generally comprises a base plate 11, opposite side wall plates 12 whose lower edges 13 are laterally bent inwardly over the base plate 11 and a plate 14 resting upon the base plate 11 and having a vertical end flange 15 which is in horizontally spaced relation to a vertical end flange 16 on base plate 11.

The front ends of the side plates 12 are bent laterally inwardly in the provision of vertical flanges 17 whose lower ends are in vertically spaced relation to the upper edge of flange 16 for a purpose later to appear.

The rear end of plate 11 is provided with laterally spaced vertical portions 18 whose upper ends are integral with a transverse plate 19 and the rear ends of side plates 12 have right angularly bent extensions 20 which with portions 18 provide a pocket 21 for the marker in its inoperative position.

A finger engageable leaf spring 22 is unitary with each side plate 12 and which may be stamped out of same or as shown have its rear end seated in a pressed out pocket 23 in the side plate 12 and welded thereto.

Each spring 22 at its forward end is provided with an inward extension 24 and which extensions are disposed adjacent to and rearwardly of flanges 16 and 17 and the inner edges of extensions 24 converge downwardly as clearly indicated in FIG. 5 for a purpose later to appear.

The marker per se comprises a plate 26 having a longitudinal opening 27 and which at one end thereof is provided with fiat pivot members 28 normally seated flatwise in notches 29 in turned-in edges 13 as is clearly indicated in FIG. 6.

The plate 26 is provided at the end thereof opposite the pivot members 28 with a vertical extension 30 having inturned edges 31 whereby providing a pocket for a rectangular marker 32 which in operative position is in vertical alinement with flanges 16 and 17 for a purpose later to appear.

The marker is shown in operative position in FIG. 3 and is shown in dotted lines in the same figure in its transition to an inoperative position. In order to swing the marker to and from operative and inoperative positions, a leaf spring 33 is unitary with plate 11 and the free end thereof yieldably bears on plate 26 at one end of the opening 27 therein, the opening clearing the spring in the inoperative position of plate 26. In the inoperative position of the marker 32 same is disposed within the pocket 21.

Engaged portions of all initially separate parts are suitably welded together.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the marker structure is a unit separate from the measuring tape structure and which possesses two marked advantages, one of which is that measuring tape structures now in use, as well as capable of being purchased, can readily be provided with markers and a second one of which is that a marker, when not required, can be readily removed from operative association with a measuring tape structure.

Furthermore, the marker structures may be retained in removable engagement with the housings of tape measuring structures with the marker concealed within the pocket 21 with resulting substantially smooth external surfaces which will not damage pockets in which the marker provided with tape measuring structures may be carried.

In use of the improved marking structure in operative association with the housing of a tape measuring structure as in FIGS. 1 and 2, a user will grasp the housing H in one hand and hold same at a desired point and he will engage the free end of the tape with his other hand and draw the tape from the housing H through the slot s to such extent as a required measurement may demand. When the tape is so positioned for marking, the opposed springs 22 will be engaged by the thumb and forefinger of the hand supporting the housing H, and inward pressure on the springs will impose friction on opposite edges of the tape as is obvious from FIG. and thus restrain relative movement between the tape T and the housing H during a marking operation which is effected by suitable movement of the housing H.

'It will be noted from FIG. 5 that the opposed edges of flanges 16 and 17 vertically confine the tape T at the bottom edges of flanges 17 and the downwardly converging edges of extension 24 define guides for the opposed edges of the tape.

Furthermore, it is to be noted that the marker 32 is disposed vertically beneath flange 16 from which the tape reading is taken.

The marker per se 32 is preferably relatively soft and tough and of a bright color, particularly red, in order to provide a readily visible mark.

The markers may be furnished in the form of re-fllls as in the case of leads for pencils. The housings of tape measuring structures of the kind herein disclosed are marked Inside measure, add 2 inches and the marking attachment, in accordance with the present invention, is preferably 2% in length whereby, upon taking inside measurements, 2% should be added to the reading on the tape T.

While the present invention has been disclosed in accordance with a single specific structural embodiment thereof, such is to be considered as illustrative only, and

not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A marking means for a pocket reel tape structure including a housing of generally rectangular configuration in cross section and including opposite side walls, opposite end walls and a bottom wall and a tape traversing slot in one of the end walls adjacent the bottom wall, comprising a rectangular casing removably engageable with the lower portion of the housing and being provided with tape guide means for disposition adjacent said slot, a plate disposed in the bottom of said casing and having one end thereof pivotally connected to the casing intermediate the ends thereof, a marker supported by the opposite end of the plate, the end of sad casing opposite said guide means being provided with a pocket, and said plate being swingable through an arc of for disposal of said marker in said pocket.

2. A marking attachment for a flexible reeled tape measuring device including a housing having opposite parallel side walls, opposite parallel end walls, and a flat bottom wall, and wherein one of said end walls is pro vided with a tape traversing slot adjacent said bottom wall; comprising an open top rectangular casing whose opposite side walls and end walls are frictionally engageable with the lower portions of said side and end walls of said housing, one end of said casing having a guide passage for said tape horizontally aligned with said slot, said tape guide passage including finger compressible yieldable portions frictionally engageable with opposite edges of said tape for restraining same against linear movement relative to said housing, a plate having one end thereof pivotally supported by the bottom wall of said casing intermediate the ends thereof, a marker element removably supported by one end of said plate, and said casing being provided with a downwardly opening pocket in the opposite end thereof in which said marker element is receivable upon pivotal movement of said plate through an angle of 180 from the operative position of said marker element beneath said tape guide passage.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said marker is of relatively thin rectangular form, and said plate being provided with a pocket in which a portion of said marker is frictionally engaged.

4. The structure according to claim 2, wherein a spring bears on said pivoted plate for effecting movement thereof in either direction with a snap action.

5. The structure according to claim 2 wherein said plate is provided with a pocket within which said marking element is frictionally received whereby a worn marking element may readily be replaced with a new one.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,233,034 Crogan July 10, 1917 1,259,886 McLeod Mar. 19, 1918 2,131,695 Stowell Sept. 27, 1938 2,400,343 Eskil May 14, 1946 2,575,354 Mills Nov. 20, 1951 2,599,320 Dart June 3, 1952 2,649,787 Kobayoski Aug. 25, 1953 2,651,843 Goodford Sept. 15, 1953 2,759,696 Nelson Aug. 21, 1956 

